Heel-End Slip Shoe

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction of a shoe that is comprised of a disengageable-heel portion that may be disengaged from an upper. Disengagement of the heel portion from the upper allows the heel portion to fold away from the upper, which exposes a heel-end opening that a foot may pass through to gain entry to the interior of the shoe. Additionally, a stretchable lacing material may be utilized to allow the shoe to absorb energy exerted on to it by a wearer of the shoe without disengaging the heel portion from the upper.

BACKGROUND

An athletic style shoe typically requires a foot to be received throughan ankle opening along a top edge of the upper. Traditionally, a wearerof this athletic style shoe loosens a lacing structure to allow entry ofhis or her foot into the shoe. The wearer then may tighten the lacingstructure to secure the shoe to the received foot. However, the entryinto the shoe through the ankle opening may not be desired by a wearer.Further, a wearer of the shoe may not desire to work with a traditionallacing structure to gain entry to the shoe and to secure the shoe to afoot of the wearer.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction of ashoe that is comprised of a disengageable-heel portion that may bedisengaged from an upper portion of the shoe. Disengagement of the heelportion from the upper allows the heel portion to fold away from theupper, which exposes a heel-end opening that a foot may pass through togain entry to the interior of the shoe. Additionally, a stretchablelacing material may be utilized to allow the shoe to absorb energyexerted on to it by a wearer of the shoe without disengaging the heelportion from the upper.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary shoe having a disengageable-heel portionthat is engaged to an upper, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a medial side view of a shoe having a disengageable-heelportion that is engaged to an upper, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a disengageable-heel portion partially engaged with anupper, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a disengageable-heel portion disengaged from an upper, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a heel-end view of a shoe having a disengageable-heelportion disengaged from an upper, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts a lacing structure attached to an interior surface of anupper, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is describedwith specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, thedescription itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject mattermight also be embodied in other ways, to include different elements orcombinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document,in conjunction with other present or future technologies.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction of ashoe that includes a disengageable-heel portion that may be disengagedfrom an upper. Disengagement of the heel portion from the upper allowsthe heel portion to fold away from the upper, which exposes a heel-endopening that a foot may pass through to gain entry to the interior ofthe shoe. Additionally, a stretchable lacing material may be utilized toallow the shoe to absorb energy exerted on to it by a wearer of the shoewithout disengaging the heel portion from the upper.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a first shoeconstruction. The shoe construction includes a sole having a toe end andan opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sidesextending between the toe end and the heel end. The shoe constructionfurther has an upper of flexible material attached to the sole. Theupper extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge and the uppertop edge defines a forefoot opening. The shoe construction additionallyhas a disengageable-heel portion attached to the sole at the heel end.The disengageable-heel portion extends upwardly from the sole to a heelportion top edge. The disengageable-heel portion has a medial-front edgethat extends from the sole to the forefoot opening on the medial side ofthe sole and an opposite lateral-front edge that extends from the soleto the forefoot opening on the lateral side of the sole. Thedisengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached to the upper anddefines an ankle opening when attached to the upper.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a second shoeconstruction including a sole having a toe end and an opposite heel endand having opposite medial and lateral sides extending between the toeend and the heel end. The shoe construction also has an upper withopposite interior and exterior surfaces. The upper is attached to thesole along the medial and lateral sides. The upper extends upwardly fromthe sole to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefootopening. The upper also forms a heel-end opening proximate the heel endof the sole. The shoe construction also includes a disengageable-heelportion with opposite interior and exterior surfaces. Thedisengageable-heel portion is attached to the sole at the heel end. Theinterior surface of the disengageable-heel portion is disengageablyattachable to the exterior surface of the upper, enclosing the heel-endopening of the upper. The disengageable-heel portion has a medial-frontedge extending from the sole to the forefoot opening on the medial sideof the sole and an opposite lateral-front edge extending from the soleto the forefoot opening on the lateral side of the sole.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a third shoeconstruction that includes a sole having a toe end and an opposite heelend, and opposite medial and lateral sides extending between the toe endand the heel end. The shoe construction further has an upper withopposite interior and exterior surfaces. The upper is attached to thesole along the medial and lateral side and extends upwardly from thesole to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefootopening. The upper also forms a heel-end opening near the heel end ofthe sole, such that the heel-end opening prevents the upper fromextending around an Achilles region. The shoe construction also includesa disengageable-heel portion with opposite interior and exteriorsurfaces. The disengageable-heel portion is attached to the sole at theheel end. The interior surface of the disengageable-heel portion iscoupled to a hook or loop material that is disengageably attachable to ahook or loop material coupled to the exterior surface of the upper. Thedisengageable-heel portion encloses the heel-end opening of the upperwhen attached to the upper. The shoe construction further has aperturesin the upper arranged in a line on a medial side and a lateral side ofthe forefoot opening. A stretchable lacing is attached to the interiorsurface of the upper extending through an aperture on the medial side toan aperture on the lateral side.

Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the presentinvention, a more detailed description follows.

The construction of a slip athleisure shoe 10 of the present inventionhas the basic construction of a basketball-type shoe. However, the slipathleisure shoe 10 is comprised of a disengageable-heel portion 402 thatmay be removeably attached to an upper 202 in an as-worn position (asbest seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) and un-attached from the upper 202 toprovide an opening to the shoe's interior (as best seen in FIG. 4).Additionally, the slip athleisure shoe 10 may include a stretchablelacing 310. The disengageable-heel portion 402 and/or the stretchablelacing 310 provide the shoe with a unique opening and fasteningconfiguration.

In embodiments, the shoe 10 is a high-top basketball style shoe.However, it should be understood that the novel concept of the inventioncould be employed on other types of shoes. Because much of theconstruction of the shoe 10 is the same as that of a conventionalhigh-top shoe, the conventional features of the constructions will bedescribed only generally herein.

The shoe 10 has a shoe sole 102 that is constructed of resilientmaterials that are typically employed in the construction of soles ofathletic shoes. The sole 102 can be constructed with an outsole, amidsole, and an insert, as is conventional. The shoe sole 102 has abottom surface that functions as the traction surface of the shoe, andan opposite top surface in the interior 12 of the shoe 10. The size ofthe shoe 10 has a length that extends from a rear sole heel end 106 to afront toe end 104 of the sole 102. As best seen in FIG. 5, the sole 102has a width that extends between a medial side 108 and a lateral side110 of the sole 102.

The shoe 10 also is constructed with the upper 202. The upper 202 issecured to the sole 102 and extends upwardly from the shoe sole topsurface. The upper 202 is constructed of a flexible material, forexample leather, polymer, or a fabric such as canvas. However, unlike atraditional upper, the upper 102 may not include a traditional heelportion that would extend around the sole top surface at the sole heelend 106. Instead, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, adisengageable heel portion may be utilized in the construction of theshoe 10.

The upper 202 has a medial side portion 216 and a lateral side portion218 that extend along the respective sole medial side 108 and the solelateral side 110. The upper medial side portion 216 extends upwardlyfrom the sole medial side 108 to an upper medial side edge 206. Theupper lateral side portion 218 extends upwardly from the sole lateralside 110 to an upper lateral side edge 208. As illustrated in thefigures, the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge208 extend rearwardly from opposite sides of the front toe end 104 ofthe sole 102. As best seen in FIG. 1, the length of the upper medialside edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208 define a forefootopening 220 in the upper 202 that opens to the shoe interior 12.

The upper 202 is also constructed with a toe box 204 that extends aroundand across the sole top surface at the sole toe end 104. The toe box 204is connected between the upper medial side portion 216 and the upperlateral side portion 218 and encloses a portion of the shoe interior 12adjacent the sole toe end 104. The upper medial side edge 206 and theupper lateral side edge 208 extend rearwardly from the toe box 204.

A first plurality of apertures 302 are provided on the upper medial sideportion 216 and a second plurality of apertures 304 are provided on theupper lateral side portion 218. The apertures 302 and 304 are lacingopenings in an exemplary embodiment. A lacing opening is an opening thatis typically occupied by a portion of a fastener, such as lacing thatclose the shoe upper over the forefoot opening of the shoe. Theapertures 302 and 304 may provide any type of lacing openings on theshoe, for example, D-rings or speed lacing hooks. However, in anexemplary embodiment, the apertures 302 and 304 are an eyelet or grommetstyle aperture. The apertures 302 and 304 are arranged in lines alongthe upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion218, as is conventional. As illustrated in the figures, the apertures302 and 304, in an exemplary embodiment, extend substantially the entirelength of the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge208.

The shoe upper 202 includes a vamp 222 or a throat positioned rearwardlyof the toe box 204, and a tongue 224 that extends rearwardly from thevamp 222 through the forefoot opening 210. The tongue 224 extends alongthe lengths of the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateralside portion 218 to a distal end of the tongue, a tongue upper edge 230,near an ankle opening 410. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tongue 224has a width between a medial side edge 226 and a lateral side edge 228of the tongue. The length and width of the tongue position the tongueside edges beneath the upper medial side portion 216 and the upperlateral side portion 218, respectively, and extend the tongue over theforefoot opening 210 of the shoe.

In an exemplary embodiment, the construction of the shoe 10 includes thedisengageable-heel portion 402. The disengageable-heel portion 402 issecured to the sole 102 around the sole heel end 106 and extendsupwardly from the sole 102. The disengageable-heel portion 402 isconstructed, in an exemplary embodiment, from a flexible material. Forexample, disengageable-heel portion 402 may be constructed of the samematerial as the upper 202, or in an exemplary embodiment, thedisengageable-heel portion 402 may be constructed of a differentmaterial than the upper 202.

The disengageable-heel portion 402 extends upwardly from the sole 102 toa heel portion top edge 404. The heel portion top edge 404 defines theankle opening 410, which provides an entry to the interior 12 of theshoe 10. As best seen in FIG. 4, the disengageable-heel portion 402 iscomprised of a heel medial side portion 420 and a heel lateral sideportion 422. The heel medial side portion 420 extends from the sole 102upwardly to the heel portion top edge 404 along the medial side of theshoe. Similarly, the heel lateral side portion 422 extends from the sole102 upwardly to the heel portion top edge 404 along the lateral side ofthe shoe. In an exemplary embodiment, a forward edge of the heel medialside portion 420 is a medial front edge 406 that extends from the sole102 to the forefoot opening 210. Similarly, a forward edge of the heellateral side portion 422 is a lateral front edge 408 that extends fromthe sole 102 to the forefoot opening 210. As will be discussedhereinafter, the disengageable-heel portion 402 may be removeablyaffixed to the upper 202 that defines the forefoot opening 210;therefore, depending on a method of affixing (e.g., location of hook andloop attachment by a user), the medial front edge 406 may only extendproximate to the forefoot opening 210. Consequently, when it is statedherein that an edge, portion, or the like extends to another edge,portion, or the like, it is understood that an approximate positionalrelationship is implied.

In an exemplary embodiment, the medial front edge 406 angles forward asit extends upwardly. For example, the farthest forward (e.g., toe end)point of attachment along the sole 102 of the medial front edge 406 andthe lateral front edge 408 is rearward of the uppermost ends of therespective front edge. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment, the medialfront edge 406 and the lateral front edge 408 trend forward as theyextend upward away from the sole 102. Consequently, thedisengageable-heel portion 402 is adapted to provide additional anklesupport without constricting the side portions of a wearer's foot nearthe sole 102.

In an exemplary embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 5, thedisengageable-heel portion 402 includes a plurality of apertures 306 onthe heel medial side portion 420 and a plurality of apertures 308 on theheel lateral side portion 422. One or more of the plurality of apertures306 may appear as if aligned or in line with the plurality of apertures302 of the upper 202 when the disengageable-heel portion 402 is affixedto the upper 202, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Similarly, one or more ofthe plurality of apertures 308 may appear as if aligned or in line withthe plurality of apertures 304 of the upper 202 when thedisengageable-heel portion 402 is affixed to the upper 202. Alignment ofthe respective apertures on the upper 202 and the disengageable-heelportion 402 provides aesthetic continuity of the apertures.Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment, the alignment of respectiveplurality of apertures allows for a fastening mechanism, such as a lace,to extend through at least one of the plurality of apertures on theupper 202 to an aperture on the disengageable-heel portion 402. In thisexample, the disengageable-heel portion 402 may be affixed to the upper202 by way of the fastening mechanism.

FIG. 2 depicts a medial side view of the shoe 10 in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. As previously discussed, the sole102 has a toe end 104 and a heel end 106. The medial side portion 216 ofthe upper 202 extends upwardly from the sole 102 to the upper medialside edge 206. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is the lacing 310 extendingthrough the apertures 302. Also illustrated are the apertures 306 on theheel medial side portion 420 of the disengageable-heel portion 402. Themedial front edge 406 of the disengageable-heel portion 402 isillustrated extending in a forward trend as it upwardly extends from thesole 102.

FIG. 3 depicts the disengageable-heel portion 402 partially engaged withthe upper 202, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.The disengageable-heel portion 402 is attached to the sole 102 aroundthe heel end 106. In an exemplary embodiment, the disengageable-heelportion 402 is attached by stitching, adhesive, or other conventionalmethods to the sole 102. The affixing method utilized between the sole102 and the disengageable-heel portion 402, in an embodiment, allows thedisengageable-heel portion 402 to remain pliable or flexible proximatethe sole 102. This pliability allows the disengageable-heel portion 402to fold away from the upper 202, which facilitates exposing a heel-endopening 412.

The disengageable-heel portion 402, in an exemplary embodiments depictedin FIG. 3, has affixed to an interior surface 418 a loop material 414.Further, a corresponding hook material 416 is affixed to an exteriorsurface 214 of the upper 202. The hook material 416 and the loopmaterial 414, when used in combination are referred to as a hook andloop material. While the hook material 416 is illustrated as beingaffixed to the upper 202 and the loop material 414 is illustrated asbeing affixed to the disengageable-heel portion 402, it is contemplatedthat the hook material 416 and the loop material 414 may be used in anycombination to allow the disengageable-heel portion 402 to be engagedwith the upper 202 (e.g., any combination of hook and/or loop materialsmay be disposed on any portion of the shoe 10). The hook and loopmaterials may be permanently attached to the shoe. For example, the hookand loop materials may be sewn, stitched, glued, or otherwise attached.It is contemplated herein that other coupling structures may beimplemented in place of a hook and loop material. For example, lacing,cord, snaps, buttons, zippers, clasps, or the like may be utilized toattach, even temporarily, the disengageable-heel portion 402 to theupper 202.

At least one of the plurality of apertures 302 on the upper 202 may bealigned with at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures 306 onthe disengageable-heel portion 402. For example, as best seen in FIG. 3,an aperture 312 is positioned such that when the disengageable-heelportion 402 is engaged (e.g., a substantial portion of the hook material416 is mated to a substantial portion of the loop material 414), theaperture 312 is aligned with an aperture 316. As previously discussed,the alignment of apertures on the upper 202 with apertures on thedisengageable-heel portion 402 may facilitate maintaining a consistentappearance and/or allow a fastener to extend through the alignedapertures.

As illustrated in the FIG. 3, the aperture 316 is disposed within atleast a portion of the loop material 414. Similarly, the aperture 312 isdisposed, at least partially, within the hook material 416. The closeproximity, if not complete encompassment, of the hook and loop materialwith one or more apertures allows the disengageable-heel portion 402,when engaged (e.g., affixed, attached) to the upper 202, to maintain aclose locational relationship (e.g., alignment) of the aperture 316 andthe aperture 312. Consequently, advantages of such a proximalrelationship among the apertures may be achieved.

FIG. 4 depicts the disengageable-heel portion 402 disengaged from theupper 202 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Theupper 202 has both an interior surface 212 and the exterior surface 214.The interior surface 212 of the upper 202 in combination with theinterior surface 418 of the disengageable-heel portion 402 partiallydefine the shoe interior 12 when the disengageable-heel portion 402 isengaged with the upper 202. However, when the disengageable-heel portion402 is disengaged from the upper 202, as depicted in FIG. 4, a heel-endopening 412 is exposed.

The heel-end opening 412 is formed by a heel-end edge 424 on a lateralside of the upper 202 and a heel-end edge 426 on a medial side of theupper 202. In an exemplary embodiment, the heel-end opening 412 extendsupwardly from the sole 102. As a result of the heel-end opening 412, theupper is discontinuous around the ankle opening 410. For example,without the disengageable-heel portion 402 engaged to the upper 202, theankle opening 410 is not continuously defined at a locationconventionally associated with such an opening.

The disengagement of the loop material 414 from the hook material 416allows for the disengageable-heel portion 402 to fold downwardly fromthe ankle opening 410 to expose the heel-end opening 412. Consequently,a wearer of the shoe 10 may insert a foot into the shoe 10 through theheel-end opening 412 without adjusting the lacing 310. For example, achild or other wearer that has difficulty adjusting a typical lacingstructure may instead disengage the disengageable-heel portion 402 fromthe upper 202 to allow the shoe 10 to be removed from or placed on afoot.

A disengageable fastener, such as hook and loop material, may beimplemented to engage the disengageable-heel portion 402 to the upper202. The disengageable fastener, in an exemplary embodiment, provides agreater degree of disengaging force proximate the upper portion of thedisengageable-heel portion 402. For example, the loop material 414covers a greater surface area as the material extends upwardly from thesole 102. This greater amount of surface area may translate into agreater degree of engaging force by the hook and loop materials. Thisgreater degree at the upper portion may be desired to preventunintentional disengagement of the disengageable-heel portion 402 fromthe upper 202 because of the greater distance from a folding location ofthe upper portion of the disengageable-heel from the sole 102.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lacing 310 is a stretchable lacing. Forexample, an elastic lace material may be utilized to connect one or moreapertures on the medial side of the shoe 10 to one or more apertures onthe lateral side of the shoe 10. In an exemplary embodiment, astretchable or elastic structure, such as an elastic lacing, may bedesired to provide flexibility to the shoe 10. For example, when awearer of the shoe 10 exerts force on the shoe, that force may cause thehook and loop material that is used to mate the disengageable-heelportion 402 to the upper 202 to disengage when not desired. Therefore,it is contemplated that utilization of a stretchable lacing across theforefoot opening 220 provides flexibility and absorption of the forceexerted by the wearer in a magnitude sufficient to prevent the hook andloop materials from unintentionally disengaging. Additionally, astretchable material across the forefoot opening 220 may also provide asecuring force to form the shoe 10 to a foot of a wearer without a userhaving to tie or otherwise manipulate a traditional lacing.

A fastener may not be a continuous piece of material among all or evensome of the apertures. For example, a pairing of apertures along themedial side and the lateral side may be implemented (e.g., a mosttoe-end aperture on the medial side is paired with a most toe-endaperture on the lateral side; a second most toe-end aperture on themedial side is paired with a second most toe-end aperture on the lateralside, etc). This pairing may be implemented so that a discrete portionof fastener extends through each aperture within a pairing. For example,a portion of a fastener may extend through a first aperture on themedial side to a first aperture on the lateral side; a second discreteportion of a fastener may extend through a second aperture on the medialside to a second aperture on the lateral side.

FIG. 5 depicts a heel-end view of the shoe 10, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. The disengageable-heel portion 402is disengaged from the upper 202 to be in a folded down position. As aresult of the disengageable-heel portion 402 being in a folded downposition, the heel-end opening 412 is exposed allowing entry of a footinto the interior 12 of the shoe 10. The heel-end opening 412 isdefined, in part, by the medial heel-end edge 426 and the lateralheel-end edge 424 of the upper 202 extending upwardly from the sole 102.The heel-end opening 412 is also defined, in part, by an upper portionof the medial side edge 226 and the lateral side edge 228 of the tonguereferred to as a tongue upper edge 230. Therefore, as illustrated in theFIG. 5, the heel-end opening 412 is defined as extending upwardly fromthe sole 102 along the medial heel-end edge 426, along the tongue upperedge 230, and extending downwardly to the sole 102 along the lateralheel-end edge 424. In an exemplary embodiment, the heel-end opening 412is an opening of the shoe 10 that corresponds to an area proximate anAchilles heel of a wearer of the shoe 10 when wearing the shoe 10.

FIG. 6 depicts the interior surface 212 of the upper 202 in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention. The disengageable-heelportion 402 is illustrated at least partially disengaged from the upper202 proximate the heel medial side portion 420. The medial side of theupper 202 includes the plurality of apertures 302, which is comprised ofan aperture 324 and a second aperture 328 in the illustrated embodiment.In an exemplary embodiment, a fastening structure, such as a laceextends through one or more of the plurality of apertures 302. In afurther embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a separate fasteningstructure passes through the aperture 324 than that which passes throughthe aperture 328.

In an exemplary embodiment, a lacing material 326 extends through theaperture 324 to terminate proximate the interior surface 212 of theupper. The lacing material 326 may pass through an opening 314 of theinterior surface 212 of the upper. The lacing structure may be securedto the upper 202 as being stitched or otherwise affixed to the upper.For example, a first stitching 320 and a second stitching 322 may beeffective for securing a portion, such as an end, of the lacingstructure 326 to the shoe 10. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment,a lacing structure 330 extends through the aperture 328 to be securedproximate the interior surface 212 by passing through an opening 318 ofthe interior surface 212 by stitching 320 and/or stitching 322.Therefore, in this example, the lacing structure 326 and the lacingstructure 330 are discrete lacing portions, which unlike traditionallacing that utilizes a common lacing structure to extend through atleast a majority of apertures, the lacing structures 326 and 330 areseparate fastening structures.

Additionally, unlike traditional lacing of a shoe that may be adjusted,the lacing structures 326 and 330 are secured to the shoe in a mannerthat prevents traditional adjustments (e.g., tightening by tying).However, in an exemplary embodiment, the lacing structures 326 and 330are constructed from a stretchable (i.e., elastic) material, aspreviously discussed. Consequently, unlike a traditional lacing thatrequired a tightening of the lacing through a tying action, propertiesof a stretchable material allows for the lacing material 326 and 330 totighten around a wearer's foot. Additionally, the attachment location ofthe disengageable-heel portion 402 may be adjusted when engaged to theupper 202 to facilitate “tightening” of the shoe 10 to a wearer's foot.However, it is contemplated that a continuous lacing structure mayextend through the apertures 324 and 328 as would be utilized in atraditional shoe.

Although the shoe construction is described above by referring toparticular embodiments, it should be understood that the modificationsand variations could be made to the shoe construction described withoutdeparting from the intended scope of protection provided by thefollowing claims.

1. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and anopposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides extendingbetween the toe end and the heel end; an upper of flexible materialattached to the sole, the upper extending upwardly from the sole to anupper top edge, the upper top edge defining a forefoot opening; adisengageable-heel portion attached to the sole at the heel end, thedisengageable-heel portion extending upwardly from the sole to a heelportion top edge; the disengageable-heel portion having a medial-frontedge extending from the sole to the forefoot opening on the medial sideof the sole and an opposite lateral-front edge extending from the soleto the forefoot opening on the lateral side of the sole; and thedisengageable-heel portion disengageably attached to the upper, the heelportion top edge defining an ankle opening when disengageably attachedto the upper.
 2. The shoe construction of claim 1, further comprising: afirst plurality of apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on amedial side of the forefoot opening; and a second plurality of aperturesin the upper and arranged in a line on a lateral side of the forefootopening.
 3. The shoe construction of claim 2, further comprising: athird plurality of apertures in the disengageable-heel portion andarranged proximate the medial edge; and a fourth plurality of aperturesin the disengageable-heel portion and arranged proximate the lateraledge side.
 4. The shoe construction of claim 2, further comprising: afastener extending between the first plurality of apertures and thesecond plurality of apertures across the forefoot opening.
 5. The shoeconstruction of claim 4, wherein the fastener is an elastic material. 6.The shoe construction of claim 5, wherein the fastener extends through afirst aperture of the first plurality of apertures and the fastenerextends through a second aperture of the second plurality of apertures,and the fastener is attached to the upper proximate the first apertureand the second aperture.
 7. The shoe construction of claim 3, wherein atleast one aperture of the first plurality of apertures aligns with atleast one aperture of the third plurality of apertures and at least oneaperture of the second plurality of apertures aligns with at least oneaperture of the fourth plurality of aperture when the disengageable-heelportion is disengageably attached to the upper.
 8. The shoe constructionof claim 1, wherein the upper defines a heel-end opening.
 9. The shoeconstruction of claim 1, wherein the upper is discontinuous around theankle opening.
 10. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein thefront-lateral edge and the front-medial edge of the disengageable-heelportion extends from a heel end near the sole toward a toe end at theankle opening.
 11. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein thedisengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached to the upper alongthe medial-front edge and the opposite lateral-front edge.
 12. The shoeconstruction of claim 1, wherein the disengageable-heel portion isdisengageably attached to the upper along either the medial-front edgeor the opposite lateral-front edge.
 13. The shoe construction of claim1, wherein the disengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached tothe upper utilizing a hook and loop fastener.
 14. The shoe constructionof claim 1, wherein the disengageable-heel portion has a permanentlyattached hook or loop portion extending from the heel top edge downtowards the sole along the medial-front edge or the lateral-front edge,wherein the width, measured from the toe end to the heel end, of thehook or loop portion decreases, in part, as it extends down toward thesole.
 15. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and anopposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides extendingbetween the toe end and the heel end; an upper with opposite interiorand exterior surfaces, the upper is attached to the sole along themedial and lateral side, the upper extending upwardly from the sole toan upper top edge, the upper top edge defining a forefoot opening, theupper forming a heel-end opening proximate the heel end of the sole; adisengageable-heel portion of flexible material with opposite interiorand exterior surfaces, the disengageable-heel portion is attached to thesole at the heel end, the interior surface of the disengageable-heelportion is disengageably attachable to the exterior surface of the upperenclosing the heel-end opening of the upper; and the disengageable-heelportion having a medial-front edge extending from the sole to theforefoot opening on the medial side of the sole and an oppositelateral-front edge extending from the sole to the forefoot opening onthe lateral side of the sole.
 16. The shoe construction of claim 15,further comprising: a first plurality of apertures in the upper andarranged in a line on a medial side of the forefoot opening; a secondplurality of apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on a lateralside of the forefoot opening; a third plurality of apertures in thedisengageable-heel portion and arranged proximate the medial edge; and afourth plurality of apertures in the disengageable-heel portion andarranged proximate the lateral edge side.
 17. The shoe construction ofclaim 16, further comprising: a fastener extending from a first apertureof the first plurality of apertures to a second aperture of the secondplurality of apertures, wherein the fastener is attached to the interiorsurface of the upper.
 18. The shoe construction of claim 17, wherein thefastener is a stretchable lacing that is stitched to the interiorsurface of the upper proximate the first aperture and the secondaperture.
 19. The shoe construction of claim 15, further comprising: afirst portion of a hook and loop material attached to the interiorsurface of the disengageable-heel portion; a second portion of the hookand loop material attached to the exterior surface of the upper; andwherein the first portion is one of a hook material or a loop materialand the second portion is the opposite of the hook material or the loopmaterial of the first portion.
 20. A shoe construction comprising: asole having a toe end and an opposite heel end and having oppositemedial and lateral sides extending between the toe end and the heel end;an upper of flexible material with opposite interior and exteriorsurfaces, the upper is attached to the sole along the medial and lateralside, the upper extending upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge,the upper top edge defining a forefoot opening, the upper forming aheel-end opening proximate the heel end of the sole, such that theheel-end opening prevents the upper from extending around an Achillesregion; a disengageable-heel portion of flexible material with oppositeinterior and exterior surfaces, the disengageable-heel portion isattached to the sole at the heel end, the interior surface of thedisengageable-heel portion is coupled to a hook or loop materialdisengageably attached to a hook or loop material coupled to theexterior surface of the upper, the disengageable-heel portion enclosingthe heel-end opening of the upper; a first plurality of apertures in theupper and arranged in a line on a medial side of the forefoot opening; asecond plurality of apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on alateral side of the forefoot opening; and a stretchable lacing attachedto the interior surface of the upper extending through a first apertureof the first plurality of apertures, the stretchable lacing extendingthrough a second aperture of the second plurality of apertures, thestretchable lacing is attached to the interior surface of the upperproximate the second aperture.